By Melissa Donovan
Part 2 of 2
Textile design, production, and distribution are separate processes that must communicate between each other to ensure successful delivery to the end user. With digital printing and finishing technologies transforming garment, furnishing, and even automotive segments, software plays an increasing role. Addressing the entire supply chain—and designed for digital print/finishing production in mind—the following software solutions are ideal options for textile manufacturers.
Caldera RIP solutions include automation and workflow features for textile printing/cutting. The company’s Nexio product connects production to third-party ecommerce, MIS, and ERP solutions. “We take the time to understand the customer’s processes, business values, and organization. It is difficult to have an out-of-the-box solution, customers are all different and want a tailored solution. If the solution is not adapted to the customer, it will likely not succeed. The customer needs to buy into the solutions and the staff work as a team to adopt the tool in the objective of making things more efficient,” explains Sebastien Hanssens, VP marketing and operation, Caldera.
ErgoSoft is widely known for dye-sublimation production of digital textile and garments/apparel. Its main focus is color control and production efficiency. For example, the solution features its own proprietary ICC profiling tool. In addition, a spot and brand color module assists companies in performing color matching and consistency over time. “As a RIP vendor in particular, we are at a critical point of intersection for workflow. Our software is unique because it comes automation ready. We have the ability to use command-line XML to address the features in the RIP,” shares Chris Des Biens, sales manager, ErgoSoft.
Gerber Technology offers multiple automation solutions. Its end-to-end software features AccuMark, pattern design software; AccuNest, a high-speed automated nesting solution; and AccuPlan, spread and cut planning software. Each solution passes data from one part of the supply chain to the next to increase speed and agility. “At Gerber, we help our customers tailor our solutions to their needs. Our consultative approach helps us to better understand their current workflow, learn what applications and materials they support, and what their pain points are,” shares Leonard Marano, VP, product management and marketing, automation systems, Gerber.
Morgan Tecnica America Inc.’s automation solutions are personalized depending on the manufacturer’s needs and requirements. “Our approach is first to listen and learn from our potential customer. To us, the ability to understand on all levels what the manufacturer is looking for is instrumental,” says Michael Rabin, president, Morgan Tecnica America. Each solution includes some or all of the company’s automation software components. One of which is Cut Order Planning. It is designed to organize and improve the efficiency of a cutting room through work order analysis, fabric consumption optimization, and the ability to interface with ERP systems.
Onyx Graphics, Inc. focuses on providing complete end-to-end digital RIP and print workflow software solutions, which includes the ability to implement automated workflows from design file to printed product. Notable features include ColorCheck, a new kind of process tool set that ensures color output accuracy, consistency, and conformance. Also, Colorways easily creates patterns in multiple colors from a single file. “ONYX software works with more than 150 manufacturers, supporting thousands of devices—both printers and cutters—with a flexible software solution that enables the end user to configure the right solution for their business,” adheres Bryan Manwaring, director of product marketing, Onyx Graphics.
Tukatech Inc.’s TUKAstudio and TUKAcad integrate with digital printers. The company’s technology automatically matches garment markers with images, which are related individually to each size and garment. As a result, graphics are placed inside the pieces only, reducing the use of ink to print on areas between the pieces. “As a solutions provider we conduct extensive discovery with manufacturers. We better understand their current processes—what’s working, what’s not working. We assess the dynamics of their current team and really pinpoint what their pain point or problem is,” expresses Chris Walia, COO, Tukatech.
Zünd’s software solution communicates with front end CAD/design programs and RIP software for digital printers. Intelligent true-shape nesting options maximize material yield, pattern matching capabilities are available for fabrics with repeating designs, and intelligent textile feeding/spreading systems can be synchronized with the cutting table to prevent stretch and wrinkles. “As a solutions provider, we analyze and seek to understand the customer’s current manufacturing methods and where the challenges are. We then listen to what their goals are as manufacturers. We review what is working and what is not and determine where our solutions can help them, what benefits and value the customer can gain from them. We configure the solution that best fits their current requirements as well as their future growth needs,” explains Andy Arkin, strategic account manager, Zünd America.
Automation software is available for digital printing and finishing of textiles. It is designed to communicate with the rest of the workflow so that the process from design to production to distribution is streamlined.
Click here to read part one of this exclusive online series, Design, Production, Distribution.
Sep2019, Industrial Print Magazine